after moving to johannesburg and studying law, as a boxer he would pick fights and sparring with the apartheid authorities which had increased. he was militant and a fire brand and burning his passbook a dreaded boumt the apartheid authorities used to control the movements of south africa's black population. >> the africans require the franchise on the ages of one man, one vote. >> reporter: that simple demand and methods mandela took to fight for democracy saw him and others tried for treason. but they got life in prison instead and to robben island. another political prisoner remembers the first time he saw mandela in the prison yard. >> i could see from the way he walked and from his conduct that he was a man already stamping his authority on prison regime. >> reporter: mandela was relieved 27 years later. >> i have spoken about freedom in my lifetime. your commitment at your discipline has released me to stand before you today. >> reporter: his lack of bitterness toward the apartheid authorities helped him lead one of the remarkable transitions in the 20th century. mandela the tr